Tucson Festival of Books

Venessa Vida Kelley (they/them)


Venessa Kelley is a Nuyorican author, illustrator, .and aspiring mermaid who writes fairy tales about the real world so they can draw them too. They hold a BA and MA in English literature with concentrations in film from the University of Delaware and the George Washington University respectively. Their illustrations have decorated LGBTQ+ books worldwide. She lives in Washington, D.C., with their spouse, two sons, and an overabundance of teacups and washi tape.

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Communities: LGBTQ+, Gender Nonconforming, Hispanic or Latinx, Mixed Race


Scheduled events:
Historical Romance is for Everyone
Historical Romance has something for everyone, and in this session, three authors with very different approaches will discuss the differences in their work, how they explore real historical events, and where they see the genre going in the future.

Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sat, Mar 14, 1:00 pm - 1:55 pm
Romance
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Liana De La Rosa, Emma R. Alban, Venessa Vida Kelley
Moderator: Lauren Harvey
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Bourn Companies
Vanessa Vida Kelley
When the Tides Held the Moon - In Coney Island, true love rises to the surface. With lush illustrations and buoyant prose, Venessa Vida Kelley forges an unforgettable New York fairytale.

Friends to Lovers Tucson, Booth #280 (Seats 1)
Sat, Mar 14, 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Romance

Author: Venessa Vida Kelley
Magic, Misfits and Connection
Join Jenn Lyons, Vanessa Vida Kelley and Julie Leong as they explore how they cast misfits and why the best transformations happen when we stop trying to belong and start building our own spaces. These stories celebrate characters who refuse to accept the boxes the world tries to put them in.

Student Union Kachina (Seats 100)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 11:30 am - 12:25 pm
Sci-Fi / Fantasy / Horror
Signing area: UA Campus Store Book Sales (Mall) (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Venessa Vida Kelley, Julie Leong, Jenn Lyons
Moderator: Katherine Morter
Sponsor: Session made possible courtesy of Bourn Companies
That's Entertainment
Life in the spotlight is not always easy, especially when celebrities would like to be "normal" now and then. In this session, our authors will discuss their latest books and plot lines featuring people in show business.

UA Campus Store Stage (Seats 250)  View this venue on the Festival map
Sun, Mar 15, 2:30 pm - 3:25 pm
Romance
Signing area: Sales & Signing Area - UA Campus Store Lower Level (following presentation)  View this venue on the Festival map

Panelists: Regina Black, Cat Sebastian, Venessa Vida Kelley
Moderator: Jessica West
Sponsors: Session made possible courtesy of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity - Arizona Alpha Chapter, UA Campus Store

Book:
When the Tides Held the Moon
Romance
Kensington Publishing Corp
April 2025
ISBN 9781645661535
464 pages
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